If you’re questioning whether your Florissant home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we suggest talking with a professional like B & B Heating & Cooling about which products are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household products.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

• Furniture
• Carpet
• Building materials
• Cleaning products
• Cosmetics
• Air fresheners
• Candles

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help vapors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in large levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is operating like it should. This job allows our technicians to pinpoint problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the B & B Heating & Cooling Professionals

Know that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 314-325-7552 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the best solution for your family and budget.